Have you ever noticed that certain cars just seem to have disappeared from existence after years of seemingly being everywhere? This is a phenomenon that seemingly happens to econoboxes more than any other vehicle demographic, likely owing to the fact that the cars themselves are seen as disposable. The Chevrolet Cavalier is certainly in this category, but that doesn’t make it any less tragic that the sporty Z24 models haven’t been spared the same fate. This is a clean first-generation model that looks quite clean despite the addition of an unfortunate aftermarket rear spoiler.
Choices in spoilers aside, this Cavalier is quite nice, riding on sharp OEM 5-spoke alloy wheels with white-letter radials. The red paint and black racing stripes give the impression of the Z24 being code for some sort of performance cocktail, but this package was purely cosmetic. Still, the notchback-style coupe design is quite sporty right out of the gate, so if nothing else, the Cavalier’s shape and cosmetic features were willing participants in the attempt to convince car buyers in the middle 80s that this was the hot rod of GM’s entry-level car segment. Imagine how much better this would look without the spoiler and purple window tint!
I will freely admit to not finding these cars particularly attractive when they were closer to new, but I suspect this has more to do with familiarity than anything else. The landscape was littered with Chevy’s entry level model in the 80s and 90s, especially in the places where a kid like me would spend most of his time outside of the house: school and the mall. I now wonder if the Cavalier wasn’t such a bad car, and if it’s greatest sin was that of being familiar. I had forgotten even the door panels get the Z24 treatment, and the limited interior photos reveal that the back seat is in excellent shape.
I had also forgotten the Cavalier could have been had with the optional 2.8L V6 instead of just the wheezy four-cylinder. I believe this engine got you about 125 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. That’s a respectable number for an affordable car like the Cavalier in 1985, and it makes the Z24 more compelling as a project car worth picking up. However, you can occasionally find one with a manual transmission, and that’s the direction I’d move in if I were in the market. As it stands, however, this Cavalier Z24 here on eBay is still likely one of the best ones we’ll see for quite some time.
1985,,,our automotive nation was inundated with foreign car choices, by ’85, well proven and a solid fan base, however, you have to admit, GM gave it everything they had in retaliation, right here. For me, and many like me, that may have accepted FWD to an extent, a foreign car just wasn’t considered, yet, and with cars like this, why would you buy a foreign car? It was made in Lordstown, OH, and sold an incredible 7.3 MILLION cars in its 23 year run.
So wha’ happent’? Auto needs change, these, like many ’80s cars, were indeed deemed disposable, they were designed to fail, and most past Cavalier owners are driving Silverado pickups now, and passenger cars have been left to the imports, with a few exceptions. I thought the Cavalier was a good car.
These in my opinion for the time a decent car. If you got one with the 2.8 V6, again in the mid 80s time frame we are talking about here…… Were pretty responsive and quick. Ive had experience with several Cavaliers Skyhawks Firenzas etc. I actually like this one and would be happy to own it and take it to a cars and coffee or weekend joyride.
OMG that spoiler is hideous!
my friend bought one it broke down the first night out of the dealer ship
I am in a Facebook group with the owner. He said he bought it like this and everyone was telling him to spend the money to have the spoiler removed and refinish the trunk. Whatever it would cost would be made up for with a higher price and easier sale. The same with the painted-on stripes on the hood.
IDK, apparently the back seat covers don’t match the fronts among other things. The sheet metal seems free of rust but the underside shots show what to me looks like separation in the inner rocker. And all for the price of what these cost new. I had an 83, I think, type 10 hatchback. Cool car with a four speed but once it got older it went through clutches like nothing else. My ex wife was driving it at that point though so… I had an 87 Cavalier sedan too. Once it got up there in miles it was in and out of the shop. I did like driving them though. They didn’t feel cheap and the styling wasn’t hideous like a lot of the Japanese imports.
Always these and the later years were pretty good looking. The problem compared to say a Civic or Prelude was simply build quality and power train. That 2.8 while reliable sounded like it was going to blow up from day one. The imports won because they purred like kittens and ran forever.
The new J-body Cavaliers lined the front of Stockburger Chevrolet’s lot on State Street in Newtown, Pennsylvania, that spring of 1981 as ’82 models. The nation was in the grips of a painful recession brought-on by the second oil embargo of 1979. The times were pretty grim. Those novel and shiny Cavaliers lent a festive touch of hopefulness to that spring as if to infer that ‘this too shall pass’. Recessions are not fun and have become more global in their rippling effects over the years.
Just about ten miles away, in Ewing Township, New Jersey, General Motors Fisher Body plant, Ternstedt Division, was fabricating some of the parts for the new J-bodies on two shifts. The third shift had been reduced to barely a skeleton crew but as cyclical as the auto industry is there was an unspoken assuredness that things would bounce back. They had to. Good people’s jobs hung in the balance.
First new car we ever owned was my wife’s 1984 Cavalier. Ordered it, Type 10, 5 speed, two tone red/silver, sunroof, F41 suspension.
Fun dependable little car, big step up from her LeCar. Traded it on a used 1989 Eurosport Celebrity in 1990. Another decent Chevy, and had 4 doors and AC, needed with a growing family.
With all respect, anything would be a step up from a LeCar,,,
same for a chevette which i drove in the eighties. The spoiler is ridiculous.lol.
Had an 87 convertible 5-speed manual tremendous automobile had a lot of fun with it wish I still had it the engine will run and run and run
This is the car the Citation X11 should have been. Chevy sold a bunch on the three “F”s. Fun, Functional and aFFordable.
Most of these went to the boneyard before Y2K. Now let’s donn the auquanet and the pastel colors, smack in some fruit stripe, pop in Def Leppards latest album and head off to the Whitesnake show.
Dang dad I wanted a Z28 not a Z24.
A buddy of mine traded in his ’79 Z-28, for brand new ‘ 87 Cavalier Z24. After being towed back to the dealer 3 times in the first month of ownership? He realized his mistake.
I ordered and bought a brand new 86 Z24, red color like this but the ground effects were trimmed in silver, same wheels as this one. Had the tuned port injected V6 and the damn thing was surprisingly quick! some great memories in this car, cruising…mullet swirling in the wind! I have several old vehicles in my collection now including a C8 Corvette. Believe it or not that Z24 stereo had more depth and overall quality sound than the new Bose with 8 speakers! If I can find one with that color combo I may buy it. Get the Whitesnake and Cult tapes ready!
Wasn’t this the time period when print ads touted the Z24 as the “Cavalier raised by wolves” with a Corvette and a Camaro looking down with pride on their FWD stablemate?
Yes actually it was dubbed “The little fox, raised by wolves” Great memory John H! One of the things that made me want one was that commercial. And the fact it was $9600 bucks brand new. First new car I ever bought and it didn’t disappoint!
My opinion the $2500 price is about right for what it is I would actually consider getting it however its in New York, I guess I have seen to many YouTube videos of people getting what they thought were decent cars and turned out to be Jun always the cars have been out of New York, New Jersey and Florida.
I drove several models of this car as a company vehicle and wasn’t too xxcited about the coupes but the wagons were really nice vehicles. Good performance even with the 2 litre and stupendous gas mileage. Comfortable and little maintenance needed as I recall. The cargo area was also pretty useful and hauled more than it seemed to be able to. not everyone has the bucks for their dream car/truck but this little hauler was a good value for an average guy with kids.
89 3.1 and 5spd
Sun roof leaked so bad I siliconed it
Always had a dead spot when pulling away from dead stop
Dealer blamed the EGR
I bought a Z-24 convertible in 1988 from the pictures in the brochure. It was a 5 speed, white with a blue top. It was a blast to drive. We put 160,000 problem free miles on that thing. Still miss it!
Bought a new 84 hatchback, same color combo as this Z-24. Great car, only reason we sold it was to get a bigger car when the family came along.
SOLD for $2,550.
If anyone here bought it and are close to me, I would gladly assist you in removing that horrible spoiler.